Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition comprises M3 protein as encoded by virus MHV 68, or a homologue of said M3 protein, for use in binding to a chemokine or a chemokine analogue in vivo, or to block binding of chemokines to corresponding cell surface receptors in vivo, to produce an immunomodulatory effect, or to bind to a chemokine analogue present in a virus or parasite to block its entry into cells.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition comprises M3 protein as encoded by virus MHV 68, or a homologue of said M3 protein, for use in binding to a chemokine or a chemokine analogue in vivo, or to block binding of chemokines to corresponding cell surface receptors in vivo, to produce an immunomodulatory effect, or to bind to a chemokine analogue present in a virus or parasite to block its entry into cells.

Abstract: A mutant herpesvirus in which (a) an early gene encoding a function required for expression of late gene products has been inactivated, e.g. by deletion; and in which (b) a viral gene essential for production of infectious new virus particles has been inactivated, preferably by deletion; and in which (c) a gene to be delivered to a target cell has been inserted together with regulatory elements for its expression in a target cell, can be used as a gene delivery vector for gene delivery e.g. to central nervous system cells.

Abstract: A mutant herpesvirus has inactivating (preferably deletion) mutations at the locus of both native copies of the latency-active regulatory sequences. The resulting virus can be used as a latency-inactive virus as the basis of vectors for gene delivery, as a helpervirus for production of amplicons, and as a base virus mutant for the construction of mutant virus vectors carrying synthetic latency-active regulatory sequences. Also described are synthetic/semisynthetic latency-active regulatory sequences and their use in CNS and other cells.

Abstract: Constructs for delivery of sequences of interest to cells include a herpes virus latency active promoter (LAP) of the latency associated transcript (LAT) region. An internal ribosome entry site (IRES) is located downstream of the LAP, with a nucleotide sequence of interest downstream of the IRES. Stable, long-term expression, including export of mRNA to the cytoplasm and translation of the encoded polypeptide, is found in neuronal and non-neuronal cells.

Abstract: Constructs for the delivery of sequences of interest to cells include a herpes virus latency active promoter (LAP) of the latency associated transcript (LAT) region. An internal ribosome entry site (IRES) is located downstream of the LAP, with a nucleotide sequence of interest downstream of the IRES. Stable, long-term expression including export of mRNA to the cytoplasm and translation of the encoded polypeptide, is found in neuronal and non-neuronal cells.

Abstract: Herpesvirus amplicon preparations comprise an origin of replication, a packaging sequence, and at least one inserted gene under control of a promoter, suitable for use as an immunogen or vaccine, in association with helper herpesvirus or DNA, wherein the associated helper virus is of restricted replication competence in a normal host cell; for example where the associated helper virus has an inactivating defect in respect of a gene essential for production of infectious new virus particles, and where the amplicon carries an inserted gene necessary for the propagation of the helper virus.